Serious doubts cast over future of airline industry after Heathrow reveals shocking full-year passenger stats due
Serious doubts have been cast over the future of the airline industry after Heathrow revealed shocking full-year passenger stats due to Covid-19.
Heathrow lost three quarters of its passengers in 2020, with only 22m travelling through the UK’s busiest airport, as the pandemic left planes grounded.
The breakdown shows that in December numbers fell by 82.9 per cent to 1.1m, amid a new coronavirus strain, while November saw just one million people fly from Britain’s largest airport – an 88 per cent drop on the year before.
Doubts: Heathrow lost three quarters of its passengers in 2020, with only 22m travelling through the UK’s busiest airport
And the situation is expected to worsen in the coming months.
Last week it was announced that all travellers to the UK will have to test negative for coronavirus before they can enter the country.
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: ‘The aviation industry is the cornerstone of the UK economy but it is fighting for survival.’
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said: ‘The challenge for the airline is nobody can make a booking for two weeks out in February and March if they have to wait until they get a negative PCR test four days before departure. Bookings have collapsed and air travel will collapse to and from the UK.’